Cute N Cool

Saturday, October 31, 2009

We have a wonderful local farm that has been around forever..and despite the economy, and the challenges local farmers face just to keep the farm going.. Bob of Bob's Cornhas found his way through the "maze" of progress.

In the summer, the sweetest corn you ever want to eat is at Bob's.He now also has a complete Country Store with so many other fun items, sauces, mustard's, honey, baskets, cheeses, ice cream...

In the fall the Corn Maze opens up, and has become a favorite for our family. We have had the whole family show up to go through Bob's Corn Maze.

He has hayrides, pony rides, a corn cannon (yep, a cannon to shoot corn!)and rides for the little ones.

And pumpkins, of course!

And because he truly invites you to take your time, and have fun.. you may want to get a snack at Sarah's snack bar!

When we first moved out here in 1994, he had cows, now the cows are pretty much gone, and he has horses in the field, so possibly boards some.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

When is the last time you have heard of someone getting proposed to by a "suitor" on bended knee?

Maybe I am just getting to old to remember... but I have got to tell you, I am sure it would make any girl feel like she really is very special.

I have a sister, lets just say a much young sister ( did I just say that?).. like 16 years younger. She has had some challenges, and some discouragements, and I would imagine if she admitted it, some depression due to all of these things that have been huge obstacles in her life.

Without going into details, lets just say that life has happened to her, and for whatever reasons... she has not gotten married.

She really hasn't been involved in any serious relationship either. She got a great college education at the University of Washington, and then worked for a Washington State Government agency for longer than she would like to admit. A job that she hated.

She decided to go back to school and get additional advanced training with some specialties.. and become a teacher. That took a few more years of her life.

After some other major life changes took place, she headed to Las Vegas to except a teaching job there. The cool thing is our Mom lives in Vegas part of the year, so at least she was not totally without family nearby.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Well, around here the foliage changes, like most everywhere else, which is lovely for a short while. It is the rain that I don't like. It seems like it just rains all the time, and the sky is gray, a lot!

Yesterday we had a crazy storm come through, and for a short period of time, we has standing water in my walkway, like an inch or so...crazy!

Man, I think it was raining so hard and the wind was blowing hard as well, that the rain was raining sideways!

Now, because it rained so hard, the driveway to the barn and arena has huge rain ruts, and my horses paddocks are muddy and ugly! UGH..this sucks!

The good news is that where we live, flooding will probably not be an issue like elsewhere in this region.

Down in the south part of King County ( Seattle is in King County), they are giving business's and residents a heads up that they will be flooded this year...isn't that a lovely message to receive.

They are actually telling people to get Flood Insurance, because they can guarantee that the Howard Hanson Dam is not going to do it's job, and they will have to release water from it this winter to prevent further damage that was done previously.

My husbands business is in Kent, which has areas of the city that are in this flood zone. He thinks they will be OK, as the shop is higher due to the loading dock. The old building they had been in, is in the flood zone.

The government agencies have had public meetings regarding the flood area, for those residents and business folks to come and find out more. I cannot imagine how awful this is, to those who KNOW they will be effected.

The information I read about the dam says they do not have the funding to complete the repair work... to quote the information posted at the City of Auburn website...

"Issues surround the ability of local jurisdictions to remove debris from the river, dredging and shoring up levees. In order to do any of these activities, there is an extensive review and permitting process that must take place that often take months or years to complete. Due to the current pool restriction at the Howard Hanson Dam, local entities would like to see exemptions made to the current permitting process in order to work on the rivers and levees to protect citizens from potential flooding.

The Army Corps of Engineers is currently seeking funding for the necessary repairs at the Howard Hanson Dam. At this point, there appears to be little funding for these repairs."

Hello out there..where is all this 'help' that my grand kids are going to be paying for? It seems to me fixing a dam should qualify for something?

So here comes the rain, and here comes the flooding for so many folks and business's, who cannot count on help... and can only hope and pray, and buy Flood Insurance at a huge premium.

Then again, these are opportunities for entrepreneurs to create new companies...

Sunday, October 11, 2009

I mentioned this story on my other blog Mt Forest Pictures, which is more photography related.

We live in an area where in the summer time the hot air balloon come over the valley in the evenings.

I have seen them from afar all summer, and either never had time to go find one close up, or was just not fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time. Bummer!

Recently we were heading out the door, and I almost did not take my camera...if you are my family members, you know that is not often!

So, my husband made me go back in the house and grab it.

I am so glad I did! I didn't get just one balloon, but two that day. I was just happy as could be...isn't it funny how it is small things like that, that really can bring pleasure to you and a smile inside!

A while back I got this shot, at the last moment, with my old camera..on my own property.. I am waiting to get this chance again, as I hope to be more prepared and know where my camera is to get the shot sooner.

Also these things move pretty fast..so it was gone... like that!

The balloon was so close that the noise of the hot air being released scared my horses (at least the one that is not deaf...Zoe could not hear it). Also the sight of this huge round ball flying over their heads really freaked them out!

Fast forward from 2008 to now...

When I started blogging, I was more" general "on my blog topics, and loved blogging.

Later I took a long time off, as my mom's health was deteriorating, and she was my main focus.

In June of 2012 my job of 21 years ended, leading me into a bit earlier retirement then I had planned, which has opened up old doors, to do what I love doing.

I started a new blog "The Pink Geranium" for my love of repurposing, and all things vintage.

In the meantime Jan's Place is here for everything else, my love of photography, my ability to ramble on about nothing in particular...life on our little farm with the critters and family, and to continue to meet and visit new friends and old.

I love your comments, it is how I know you came by and if you follow..well I just plain blush!

Please join my new blog The Pink Geranium, See Above !!

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About Me

A Midwest girl transplanted to the Pacific NW many years ago.
Recently laid off after 21 years in the Communication Industry, so new decorate budget is called thrift!
Married to a great "old" guy, he is a year older then me! We have terrific children (mine and his), 7 wonderful grandchildren, & critters such as dogs, and horses, and a crazy cat named Eleanor.
Now I am going back to a long time love, which is old stuff..and adding it to my world of Blog!
I have 2 blogs, my first being Jan's Place where I ramble about nothing in particular, it is really my Blog home base.
The other one is The Pink Geranium, named after my mom's old consignment store, and dedicated to all things vintage.